ABRHS Hosts 2017 DiscoverSTEM Fair

Tuesday

Nov 7, 2017 at 1:56 PMNov 10, 2017 at 3:12 PM

Matt Mallio @actonbeacon

The high school gym was a chaotic, kinetic mess Monday night, with robots playing catch with children as drones buzzed above the basketball hoops. The scene was not a science fiction fever dream: It was the 2017 DiscoverSTEM fair, a chance for students to get hands-on with science, technology engineering and math.

"Instead of textbooks, they see real hands-on, science, technology, engineering and math,” said Gary Kappel of Corindus Vascular Robots.

His company makes robots that aid doctors in placing stents in blocked arteries for patients with vascular disease.

The fair featured 46 companies and exhibitors ranging from startups, to robotics teams, police and fire departments to student organizations like the ABRHS' Science Team. The event was organized by AB PIP STEM, a parent's group promoting STEM education and sponsored by numerous companies and organizations including Acton Toyota, Raytheon, SolidWorks and iRobot.

In addition to the well-managed activity inside, two electric and hybrid cars were parked outside, letting students climb in and out of. In cafeterias and common areas, various companies and organizations have set up interactive displays showing off the latest in technology and careers.

And the place is crowded.

"It’s so great to walk around and see then enthusiasm," said Acton resident and AB PIP STEM co-chairman Dewi Win.

Win originally got involved with the DiscoverSTEM fair years ago as an exhibitor with the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit promoting STEM education about six years ago. Win said it was a bi-yearly event because it takes a great deal of time and effort to organize.

"It’s been a lot of work," Win said. "We’ve been working since June or so, recruiting exhibitors recurring sponsors, recurring volunteers..."

Win said she has been contact with other towns interested in replicating the fair. She credits numerous factors for it's popularity. First, she said, parents are very supportive. Second. the area is packed with numerous tech companies. Third, the area is home to many colleges and universities.

Tech meant to inspire

Deanna Clark, the team manager of manager of FIRST Robotics Team 6328, she said all teams receive numbers, stands next to a robot designed to do multiple tasks including putting gears on pegs and even climbing a rope. The robot she said, recently competed in the FIRST Robotics World Championship in St. Louis. She said the team was governed by a nonprofit called the Littleton Stem Foundation.

According to Clark, she was at the fair to promote the FIRST Robotics organization and Team 6238. She said the team has kids from five different schools and she was hoping to get some new team members from Acton-Boxborough.

Ken Stafford, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was there with his FIRST Robotics Team, 190The robot, built by students from the Mass Academy of Math and Science High School with the help of WPI students and faculty.

"It's all designed just to do just one thing, that's to get kids inspired about science and technology and the rewards thereof," Stafford said.

Adam Smith of Charles River Radio Controllers showed off his group's homemade planes. Each about the size of a typical model plane, but made using common materials you would find at the Dollar Store like foam boards, Popsicle sticks, and coffee stirrers. From constructing these planes and quad-copters, Smith said people learn the basics of aerodynamics and design.

A positive reception

"It’s been great," said Acton Police Detective Keith Campbell, who was discussing taking plaster casts of footprints and tire tracks with Acton-Boxborough junior Ivana Barnes. He said forensic sciences were used every day in police work and people would surprised at the sheer amount of evidence that could be collected at any given scene. Most people think strictly in terms of DNA and fingerprints, nut there was a litany of potential evidence at a scene. Kids, he said, have been exposed to forensics in books and on TV, but here at the fair was different.